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Being in Big Ten putting Ohio State football at a major disadvantage
TL;DR
Ohio State football faces a significant disadvantage in the Big Ten due to its noon game slots on Fox, unlike the SEC's evening primetime games on ESPN. This scheduling could impact their performance and visibility.
Key points
- Ohio State won the 2024 national championship
- Big Ten has resource advantages but scheduling disadvantages
- Big Ten games are often scheduled at noon on Fox
- SEC games are typically in primetime on ESPN
- Ohio State is a consistent playoff contender
Mentioned in this story
Ryan Day
Ohio State BuckeyesBig TenSEC
Credit: The Register Guard, The Columbus Dispatch
The Ohio State Buckeyes are one of the preeminent programs in college football. The Buckeyes won the 2024 national championship, and have been so consistent under head coach Ryan Day that they’re a near lock every season to make an expanded College Football Playofff.
The Buckeyes have been beneficiaries of being in the resource-heavy Big Ten conference, which boasts being the conference where the last three national championship winners hail from (Michigan, Indiana).
However, being in the Big Ten has one oft-overlooked disadvantage, and the Buckeyes are feeling it in a major way. The Big Ten’s broadcast partner is Fox, which regularly puts its premier games in the noon time slot. On the other hand, college football’s other major conference, the SEC, is partnered with ESPN, which features its primetime games in the evening.
This has resulted in a scenario where the Buckeyes are scheduling home and homes against premier SEC programs such as the Alabama Crimson Tide and Texas Longhorns, where the road games are expected to be in the evening, but the home games are all but guaranteed to kick off at noon. It may seem like a small thing, but evening games tend to lead to more hostile stadiums, and the added pressure that comes with being a road team under the lights.
Ohio State will travel to Texas to take on the Longhorns September 12th for a 7:30 kickoff on ABC according to multiple reports. pic.twitter.com/NyoH0tARsy
— Scarlet and Gray Content (@TheSG_Content) May 12, 2026
Social media takes note of the Big Ten’s disadvantage
Fans and reporters on social media are well aware of the uniquely disadvantaged circumstances the Big Ten’s flagship programs are in.
“Ohio State lives in a world where it has a home-and-home series with three SEC teams right now and everyone knows the games in Columbus will be at noon and all the road games will be at night,” Ohio State reporter Stephen Means posted on X.
Q&A
How does the Big Ten's noon game scheduling affect Ohio State football?
The noon game scheduling can limit Ohio State's visibility and fan engagement compared to teams in the SEC, which play in primetime slots.
What are the recent national championships won by Big Ten teams?
The last three national championships were won by Big Ten teams, specifically Michigan and Indiana, highlighting the conference's competitive strength.
Who is the head coach of Ohio State football?
Ryan Day is the head coach of Ohio State football, leading the team to consistent success in the college football landscape.